Following Occitanie, more French regions show interest in the Sahara's economic potential
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A delegation from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region is on a working visit to Laayoune. Jean-Pierre Colin, Vice President of the regional council in charge of finance and cooperation partnerships, told MAP that the purpose of the visit is to «explore the possibility of a cooperation agreement» with the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra regional council, particularly in the field of renewable energy.
Jean-Pierre Colin, vice-president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in charge of finance and cooperation partnerships, during a press statement on a working visit to Laâyoune. pic.twitter.com/88UKfJDEVS
— Agence MAP (@MAP_Information) June 17, 2025
«This is an important issue for us, one we want to develop with Morocco, especially with the symbolic region of Laayoune», he said. Colin also noted that PACA is already working with Barcelona on similar projects. During the visit, the French delegation explored several economic and cultural initiatives in the capital of the Moroccan Sahara.
The PACA delegation's visit comes just weeks after a partnership agreement was signed between the Occitanie region and the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab regional council.
French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in a letter sent to King Mohammed VI on July 30, 2024, and reaffirmed this stance in a speech before the Moroccan Parliament on October 29.
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